After arriving at the Suffolk port they were then destined to be driven to an importer in London.

It is believed they would have then been distributed to various retailers throughout the UK.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council’s trading standards department said: “Further testing and work needs to be carried out by the team to ascertain the exact nature of the possible serious safety issues identified.

“These include novelty lighters - following fires resulting in deaths and serious injury across Europe where children confused novelty lighters as toys, new legislation was introduced in 2007 and 2008 banning their supply.

“Alongside this there are also concerns as to whether the lighter could be classed as an imitation firearm under current UK legislation, and whether the laser included in the device was of a class or strength that could not be used in consumer products and potentially capable of misuse causing damage to eyesight.

“Until the results of testing are known the consignment will be subject to controls and the lighters not released for free circulation on to the UK market.”

How stupI'd They are just novelty lighters,concentrate on the real issues at the port, drugs cigs and booze, not forgetting the usual blokes with carrier bags always seen along the a14 after doing a runner. Can't believe this story, really I can't. These lighters that produce flames could cause a fire, just like the lighters that are lighters.